⬣//GROWING WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL.

[cccorp]

>>Gathering // >>Waiting // >>Can't Return // >>It's Real

⬣//STERILE WHITE WALLS

September 23rd—conference day. In the hours preceding the meeting, beta testers are supplied with information on how to access the virtual conference room and offered a set of conduct guidelines. Testers are urged to read them thoroughly and instructed to sign their name on the bottom of the page to confirm that they’ve read and understand the following guidelines:

1. All questions will be addressed. Do not interrupt speakers or other beta testers when they are asking questions or having their questions answered.

2. Conduct yourself professionally and appropriately. Do not curse, shout, or otherwise engage in disruptive behavior. Violators will be muted and their speaking privileges revoked.

3. No eating or drinking. Keep your virtual space clean and free of debris.

4. Remain seated. Excessive movement or inappropriate behavior will result in restriction of your avatar’s movements.

5. PvP is disabled in the conference room. Weapons cannot be drawn and your Fragment inventory is unavailable during the duration of the conference.

Players are generously allowed one hour to filter in and find their seats, review the guidelines, and discuss the questions they’ve prepared with their fellow beta testers.

⬣//THE LOW RUMBLE OF DISTANT THUNDER

One hour comes and goes. The room remains occupied only by the beta participants, CyberConnect Corporation’s flashy logo spinning idly on the conference room’s 80 inch display. Restlessness begins to settle in, idle chatter turning to frustration as one hour becomes two. Still, no one from the Corporation shows.

The conference room remains devoid of purpose, some forty-odd people sitting alone in a sterile conference room, a locked room, should anyone grow so restless they try to leave. Any attempts made to break doors and windows will fail.

The door is locked, as are the windows, the world beyond their stark white blinds a slurry of purple and black. Thunder crackles in that dark, endless void. Even if you could leave, where would you go?

⬣//TORRENTIAL RAINS

It’s painfully evident after three hours of silence that no one from CyberConnect is showing up to the conference, but you knew that already, didn’t you? This mandatory meeting was fishy from the start, some would argue, while others may yet hold out hope.

That ends the instant anyone tries to log out and leave. Everyone who attempts to leave will be met with the same error Shoka was some weeks ago, but this time, the error is permanent. This time, there is no connection between mind and body anymore, and any attempt to “reach” your real self will fail.

You feel no one on the other end. You no longer feel the weight of your headset on your head or the keyboard beneath your fingertips. All your worldly aches and pains have drifted away only to find you here in your new reality, every sensation so real that Fragment no longer feels like just a game. Fragment is reality.

Three hours pass from the start of the conference. The boring white walls and rickety office chairs shudder and shake and give way to the Mac Anu everyone knows. You’re back where you started, more or less. What you do from here is up to you.

⬣//LOST TO THE TUMULT AND BEDLAM

Some menus remain online. Players retain the ability to send and receive friend and party requests, access their inventories, spells, and weapons, and so on, but a few notable items are missing.

Players can no longer toggle their pain sensors on and off. Every blow you take is one you’re forced to suffer through, and what’s more, your health no longer automatically regenerates when idle. You’d better keep a stash of potions or a pocket healer handy.

While you’re at it, try not to die. The sharp-eyed among the group may notice that the respawn information nestled in the menus is no longer accessible to them. The respawn counter now reads as a series of zeros instead of the typical 20 minutes. Now is probably not the best time to continue testing Fragment’s death mechanics, but nothing’s stopping you from trying. No one’s going to save you, either.

Good luck, players. The real test has begun.

>>Navigation

Comments

[tylorific]

Nope. I forgot.

[ Tylor beams down at them, reaching for a hand if they haven't already grasped one. His pulse is even, grip calm and warm as ever ]

Thanks. But man, I sure am glad I woke up on time today.

[tinged]

[ oh...

hani hadn't thought about that. if they were all here and he wasn't... ]

Then... that just means we're fated to be here together.

[tylorific]

I guess so. There's no where else I'd rather get trapped, than with all of my friends.

[ He sounds happy about that, even the rest is only slightly flatter-- ]

Although it is pretty rude to trap us at all like this after making us wait so long. They could've at least offered us a snack.

[tinged]

Less walks at night by yourself?

[ a gentle question as hani squeezes his hand. ]

We can sleep in the same bed every night here.

[tylorific]

Why? Do you want to come with me?

[ Tylor's joking is still effortless, but it's not a yes. It's not a no. Because there are some things Justy struggles to promise, and even in game, Tylor inherits them.

His smile is a grin by the look in his eyes when he leans over to kiss their hair. ]

That's right. Oh, and we'll have to make sure Morgan sleeps enough too.

[tinged]

That would be nice. I want to see this world through your eyes.

[ for now, it’s home. it might even be forever, them living endlessly in love through data and pixels. ]

And his too. What do you think he dreams of?

[tylorific]

Well, I hope it's us, food and touch and being full. But it's probably revenge and fish too.

[ Tylor decides frankly with a nod. But next time, he will let Hani come with him. To walk silently, aimlessly, down the street. ]

Now I'm hungry again.

[tinged]

[ being full... they think of the other mithrun. full like that? they hope not. morgan deserves to be more than just a sieve of want in an inch of water and thinking himself full. morgan deserves an ocean of stars. ]

And what do you dream of, love of my life?

[ which is what other people will hear listening to their conversation, the nuances of hani’s endearment lost in translation. ]

[tylorific]

Oh, nothing much. I dream of us all, happy wherever we are. Sometimes I dream you're both with me, even when I wake up alone.

[ Tylor blinks and goes comically serious for the rest, said as he squeezes Hani like they're guilty: ]

Hey, are you sure that thing cured me?

[tinged]

[ completely innocent as they smile and say: ]

Hug me again? Maybe tighter this time.

[tylorific]

[ Oh he hugs them again alright, a big bear hug that he crouches down for. Just so when he straightens up, Hani is trapped off their feet. He squeezes them tight, before letting them down again.

He jokes back, just as innocent. ]

Wow, I feel better already.

[tinged]

[ quietly, in his arms, into his chest: ]

It hurts to hear that, but I’m glad to hear it all the same. I want to know. Every small part of you matters to me.

[ but they know saying these things doesn’t come easy for him. though sometimes they just slip out. he has been so much better about sharing the more vulnerable parts of himself, and hani hopes that it all pays off, that it’s worth it to him to share like this. ]

Better enough to eat? You said you were hungry, mm?

[tylorific]

Oh, yeah I am. Why don't we all go eat?

[ Cue him looking around for Morgan, though he keeps his arms firmly around Hani as if unwilling to let them go until he must. ]